What it could be ?

[Chickennewbie1988]

Hi everyone I have 6 week old australorp male and female two days ago I found out there box standing on cold floor so I put them back. Next day I checked on them they are breathing heavily and their poop is watery but they eat and walk around normally they are active. Before they get to sleep you can hear their heavy breathing and the female will be shaking. I'm giving them probiotic I noticed day the poop changed from clear to brown but still watery. Will they survive ? Thank you in advance

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi everyone I have 6 week old australorp male and female two days ago I found out there box standing on cold floor so I put them back. Next day I checked on them they are breathing heavily and their poop is watery but they eat and walk around normally they are active. Before they get to sleep you can hear their heavy breathing and the female will be shaking. I'm giving them probiotic I noticed day the poop changed from clear to brown but still watery. Will they survive ? Thank you in advance

Hi @Chickennewbie1988 Welcome To BYC

I don't see a location in your profile - so is it summer, winter where you are - what are your temperatures?
Do you have other chickens?
Do you have a coop or outside space prepared for these chicks?
Can you post some photos of their poop?

It's hard to know what's going on. Depending on where they are being kept, they could be chilly, but at 6wks, they shouldn't require much heat.

Breathing heavy can be from a number of things - poor ventilation, molds, dusty feed/bedding, respiratory illness or disease.

 

[Chickennewbie1988]

Thank you for replying I found out it is because of the heat lamp even though it's far from them I put a regular light bulb it seems they are doing fine and happy but their poop is still watery I don't know if I should stop the probiotic or no? It's 85 during day and 64 at night

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you post some photos of the poop?

If they were too hot, then this can produce watery stool - they may have been drinking a lot.

Check your feed label - a lot of chick feed is already contain probiotics. It's possible to much probiotics could cause runny poop, but they would really have to be overloaded.

Chickens do have 2kinds of poop - one is "normal" poop which is usually firm and well form, then they have a "cecal" poop, which is looser, stinky, sometimes dark and can be the consistency of (pardon me) pudding. They usually have 1 cecal poop for every 8-10 normal poops.

Depending on what you feed can determine the "looseness" of the poop as well. If they are eating high water content treats (melon, cucumber, grapes, tomato, etc.) then you will see looser poop.
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/02/whats-scoop-on-chicken-poop-digestive.html